attribute OpenStreetMap properly (add it to the load screen as the first step)

[matkoniecz]

Currently attribution of OSM data is effectively missing. It is present deeply hidden in settings, but it is effectively invisible.

To get it one needs to extended menu, settings menu, scroll down, "About MAPS.ME", scroll down, select "Copyright".

At the same time "MAPS.ME" credit text is always displayed in a bottom right corner of the map.

Proper attribution is present on the map, but only for about a second immediately after loading.

Interface is quite busy already, but at least on my phone load screen is present for about 6 seconds it is almost completely empty (first 2 seconds of a blank screen, later Maps.me logo, and "MAPS.ME" text). What about putting something like "powered by OpenStreetMap data" there as the first step?

I am using 9.1.8-Google, on Xiaomi Redmi 4, Android 6.0.1 MMB29M

[matkoniecz]

Note that current situation is a clear violation of the ODBL license

You must include a notice associated with
the Produced Work reasonably calculated to make any Person that uses,
views, accesses, interacts with, or is otherwise exposed to the Produced
Work aware that Content was obtained from the Database, Derivative
Database, or the Database as part of a Collective Database, and that it
is available under this License.

See equivalent OsmAnd issue - osmandapp/OsmAnd#7219 (they added "Powered by OpenStreetMap data." at the loading screen as the first step).

Proper attribution is not optional or "nice to have", it is mandatory and using OSM data without it is a copyright violation.

And

reasonably calculated to make any Person that uses

is certainly not covered by "use the extended menu, select settings menu, scroll down, select "About MAPS.ME", scroll down, select "Copyright""

See https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright for more guidelines and https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/index.html for license text.

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Note that it is easy to fix, just add text on the loading screen and replace misleading "MAPS.ME" credit in bottom right corner by "OpenStreetMap contributors, ODBL license".

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And no, "Facebook is also using OSM data illegally without a proper attribution" is not changing that it is illegal.

[burivuh]

Hi, we will add info to the loading screen in one of the upcoming releases. That is a good idea. Thanks!

[matkoniecz]

Hi, we will add info to the loading screen in one of the upcoming releases. That is a good idea. Thanks!

What is the expected timeframe for doing this? Note that it is not "nice to have", it is a first step toward addressing fact that Maps.ME is committing large scale copyright violation by ignoring license of OSM data (and without OSM data Maps.me is basically useless).

[thany]

It's funny that if you file an issue in a very "demanding" way, you get responses like "we have our own schedule" and "the app is free, stop being an arsehole", but at the same time, they improperly attribute the very data they rely on, which is the same thing: a way to "demand" data from OSM and expect to give nothing in return.

The contributors, and that includes me and possibly @matkoniecz, behind OSM do their work in their free time, giving you all this juicy data for absolutely free. And you have the nerve to not attribute them, esp since it is expressively in the OSM license. You should be deeply, deeply ashamed.

I'm writing this now, because this issue was opened a couple of months ago already, and there have been a couple of releases since then.

[squatica]

Is the OSM attribution fixed in the latest version? It's been 7 months since @burivuh said it will be added.

[thany]

Otherwise we can start reporting the app to Google and Apple for violating license terms. Afaik, such reports are taken very seriously.

[noodlejetski]

any updates about this issue? it's been a few months with no reply from the devs, and judging by a quick glance through the app it doesn't seem like anything has changed about crediting OSM.

[thany]

I think the MAPS.ME devs have already put this issue on an ignore list. Because it is so bleedingly simple to fix, and take so little effort. They just don't give a toss.

[moorchegue]

Just opened fresh installation of maps.me. OSM attribution is displayed for a couple of seconds in the bottom left corner and then it fades away.

[matkoniecz]

OSM attribution is displayed for a couple of seconds in the bottom left corner and then it fades away.

Is MAPS.ME attribution still displayed continuously, or is it also displayed only for this few seconds?

AFAIK it is unchanged, this flash was already present - at least on some devices.

[moorchegue]

Yep, it's exactly like that. OSM disappears, maps.me remains. I guess it hasn't been changed then.

[ainola]

@burivuh it's coming up on a year since you expressed interest to start abiding by the terms of the license. What is the status?